Although many regard UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones as the MMA equivalent of basketball legend Michael Jordan, it is safe to say that ‘Bones’ can never compete with ‘MJ’ or even any current NBA players when it comes to basketball. While the reigning champion is undoubtedly a dominant force in combat sports, his basketball skills don’t quite measure up, as the same was admitted by Jones himself.

During a recent appearance on the ‘Alex G was Here’ podcast while cruising in the host’s $5 million Bugatti, the conversation shifted to basketball. The host joked, “I’ll ball you up,” to which Jones immediately conceded, saying, “I’m the worst basketball player you’ll ever see.” The host, taken aback, responded with, “Really?” and Jones went on to share a humbling story about his lack of basketball skills, even admitting he couldn’t dunk the ball and had a particularly embarrassing moment at a New York Knicks game.

Jones recalled, “Bro, they gave me the ball and I was trying to shoot three-pointers from the NBA three-point line. I couldn’t even touch the rim, bro. I couldn’t even throw the ball far enough to hit the rim. It was pretty embarrassing. Shot the ball like five times.” When the host asked if he hit the “rim” the reigning champion responded, “Bro, there were like 700 people in the arena. It was before the game, and I was so embarrassed.” Since that humbling experience, ‘Bones’ has vowed to never touch a basketball again.

Although Jon Jones hails from a family of exceptional athletes, he isn’t as skilled in other sports. His younger brother, Chandler Jones, has been a dominant force in the NFL for years, and his older brother, Arthur Jones, also made his mark as a defensive lineman in the NFL. While his brothers are renowned for their natural athleticism, the UFC reigning champion’s success stems from “hard work,” not just raw talent. Though he may not possess the basketball skills some expect, that doesn’t mean he’s exempt from criticism by basketball athletes.

Jon Jones silences an NBA star

In 2023, Jon Jones was preparing for his first title defense against Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden at UFC 295, but the fight got postponed owing to Jones’ injury. However, the spotlight was unexpectedly stolen by NBA player James Johnson. While appearing on the Ryan Hollins NBA Rookie Life Show before the ‘Bones’ fight event, Johnson boldly claimed that he could end the UFC reigning champion’s undefeated streak with just one year of preparation.

Johnson, who claimed an undefeated record of 20-0 in kickboxing and 7-0 in MMA, stirred up some attention with his confident assertion. The NBA star said, “I think I could beat him for real. I rock with Jones. I would need a year. My standup game is great, but what we all know about Jones is he’s a collegiate wrestler – really good on the ground, and that’s not my forte.” When Jones caught wind of Johnson’s comments, he couldn’t resist responding with a jab, saying, “I didn’t realize until now, basketball players got CTE as well, this man sounds crazy.”

What do you think of Jon Jones’ response to James Johnson’s challenge? Is it a big deal that ‘Bones’ isn’t great at everything, even if he’s considered the “greatest MMA fighter of all time”? Share your thoughts below.